Be safe on the roads to Ballarat

Feb 6, 2019 8:00AM

Bulldogs to run out Towards ZeroThe Bulldogs have partnered with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) to support Towards Zero, Victoria's plan for a future free of deaths and serious injuries on Victorian roads. Learn more about the initiative and and why each of the selected 22 players will run out with the zero on their backs for Sunday's Round 19 match at Mars Stadium.

With the footy season approaching, we would like to take this opportunity to remind all our sponsors and fans to take care on the roads.

It’s been a tragic start to the year on Victorian roads with 59 people already losing their lives, compared with 38 at the same time last year (as at March 4).

All of these fatalities are preventable, all of them are heartbreaking and our thoughts go out to the families and friends of people who have died on our roads.

Motorcycle riders have been significantly overrepresented with 17 deaths, compared to 7 at the same time last year.

Most rider fatalities this year have involved middle-aged men on high-speed rural roads making mistakes – in most cases, no other vehicle was involved.

Motorcycle riders don’t have the protection of a vehicle, so when the unexpected happens at high speeds, it’s rarely survivable.

Whilst we saw a significant reduction in deaths on regional roads last year, this year there has already been 39 fatalities in the country.

Nearly half of all road fatalities in Victoria happen on high-speed rural roads. Around two-thirds of people who die on country roads are country people.

On country roads people travel longer distances and at higher speeds, meaning when mistakes happen the consequences are often more severe or fatal.

We cannot accept that one more Victorian family will have to face grief because of a tragedy on our roads.

Our message to drivers and riders is:

Avoid driving when you’re tired;

Separate drinking alcohol and driving / riding;

Avoid distractions while driving; and

Slow down, drive / ride to the conditions.

We need all road users to ease up and take care, particularly on high-speed country roads.

It’s up to all of us to create a safe environment and we all have a role to play.